NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

October 26, 1983

President Fitz
Equipment Company
P.O. Box 6071
Odessa, Texas 79760

Dear Sir:

Recent investigations by this agency indicate that a serious safety problem
is related to drilling equipment manufactured by your company. The problem
concerns the driller's control console panel configuration on equipment
previously delivered to Verna Drilling Company and operated by Offshore
Casing Crews, Incorporated.

At this time, it appears that your equipment may have contributed to three
serious injuries and a fatality. On December 27, 1981, an accident seriously
injured two persons on a rig operated by Offshore Casing Crews, and on
January 4, 1982, one of the injured persons died. Previously, a similar
accident resulted in serious injuries to two persons at the Verna
Corporation.

The specific nature of the problem seems to stem from the location, on the
control panel, of two powered functions. Your drilling rig is provided with
a control console on which two adjacent controls of identical shape and form
perform two completely different functions. One control activates the
breakout cathead, while the adjacent control operates the hoisting equipment.
We believe that, due to the close proximity of the controls and the manner
in which they are manipulated, a serious hazard exists.

It is our understanding that, while drilling operations progress, drillers
who are responsible assuring the safe clearance of workers from operating
equipment frequently rely upon their skill to manipulate the controls without
glancing at the panel for each function desired. Unfortunately in such an
environment, and due to the control console configuration, the breakout
cathead control may be accidentally activated in place of the hoisting
control. When such an error occurs, the breakout tongs become a giant club
swinging with great force across the work platform area where employees are
working.

Various solutions to the condition have been suggested by our field
personnel, including:

1. Relocating the breakout cathead control.

2. Providing a latch lock on the breakout cathead control to
prevent unintentional activation.

The American Petroleum Institute (API) has developed and published several
documents which address the design and operation of Drilling Machinery. The
API has suggested the use of standardized control consoles and control knobs
unique to the functions they perform. Perhaps you are unaware of these
documents and did not participate in their development.

This office is considering the publication of a safety alert notice to
inform our field staff and others of the above-mentioned hazard relating to
the use of your equipment. Please provide us with information regarding any
corrective action(s) conducted by your company to eliminate the recurring
hazardous operation of this drilling equipment. While awaiting your timely
response, and alert will not be issued to our field staff at this time.

If I may be of further assistance, please contact me.

Sincerely,

John B. Miles, Jr., Director
Directorate of Field Operations

NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

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